What? Copywriting is Not a Side Hustle!

​Check out the (insert name of copywriting course here)! It is on sale for today only! For just $29.99, you, too, can learn how to turn copywriting into a lucrative side hustle!

​Sound too good to be true? It is.

If I had a dollar for every advertisement that I saw online promising to turn copywriting into a lucrative side hustle, I would not need to work. Ever. Again. If you get the feeling that these kinds of ads irk the living snot out of me, you are not wrong. For starters, I guarantee you that there is not a course out there that can teach you how to "side hustle" your way to building a copywriting empire. Sorry, but no. That is a secret you keep all to yourself as not to spur a bunch of competition.

Also, any writing program that claims you can work from the beach should immediately be tossed in the trash. Reputable copywriters will tell you they do not set up shop at the beach. For starters, all that sand and saltwater is not great for electronic devices. Second, becoming a top-rated copywriter is not a day at the beach. Copywriters who make the coveted six figures these programs promise work long hours and dedicate ample time to every customer they serve to ensure their satisfaction.

Copywriting is not a side hustle, my friends, and I am going to tell you why.

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What the heck is a “side hustle” anyway?

If you have been paying attention to economic news lately, you have likely heard terms like gig economy and side hustle tossed about. Confused? Let me break it down for you.

Gig economy refers to a labor market consisting of short-term contracts and freelance work. Think Uber, GrubHub, and Instacart to help visualize the concept. Those are not the only kind of workers in the gig economy. There are other contractors (I hate the word freelancers, so not going to use it) who provide a variety of professional services. These folks all fit the definition of a gig worker since they have shunned the traditional 9-to-5 for something that suits their lifestyle and their skills.
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Gig work is not the same thing as a side hustle. Gig workers usually forgo any kind of traditional employment. Side hustles are any type of job a person takes outside their regular full-time employment. Side hustlers are people who have jobs with benefits but choose to pursue their passion “on the side.” Keep in mind that some employers restrict their employees’ ability to work a second job. Their reach extends to side hustles. Make sure yours is not one of them before you spend your time and money launching a side gig that lands you in hot water with your employer. 

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Why copywriting is not a side hustle

Now that you understand what a side hustle is, let me explain why I get so riled up when people suggest copywriting is a great side hustle.

If anyone could write high-quality copy, there would not be so many businesses and other organizations out there hiring copywriters to help them. Writing is hard. No matter how many $400 courses you buy trying to side hustle your way to six figures as a writer, you still may fail miserably. That is what none of those courses tell you. They just want your money, so they sell you on a dream that simply is not the reality for most people.
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There is another reason copywriting is not a great choice for a side hustle. Most people who engage in side-hustling do so to start their own businesses and eventually leave their full-time jobs. If this is your goal, it can be difficult to reach it in the copywriting profession. Why? Well, to put it bluntly, to truly make it as a copywriter, you must devote all your time to it. You cannot do that if you are working a full-time job. That is the quickest way to Burnoutville, my friends. It takes time to build relationships and network with prospective clients. You are fooling yourself if you think you can do that well and still put in 40-plus hours a week somewhere else. Before you know it, you will begin to feel like a hamster running on a wheel as fast as you can but never getting anywhere. 

Clients deserve better

Think about it. What if during your next visit to your hairstylist, she kept pausing in the middle of your cut-and-style to answer emails or calls that had absolutely nothing to do with the job at hand? Or you hired a contractor to fix your leaky roof, but it took him more than a week to patch a small hole because he kept stopping so he could handle calls for his side gig. It would probably make you feel unvalued, amiright?
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No matter how well-intentioned you may be, your side hustle eventually will creep into your primary job. What ends up happening is neither your employer nor your side-hustle clients are getting your full attention. Your clients deserve better. 

The side-hustle solution

Solving the side-hustle problem is easy. If copywriting is truly your passion, and you have the skills to be successful at it, then give it your full-time attention. Build up enough of a cushion in savings at your current full-time job to leave it entirely within one to two years to pursue copywriting. You must be disciplined and work hard at building your brand. Will it be scary? Hell yes. Will you work your backside off until you feel utterly exhausted at the end of each day? Absolutely. Trust me when I say it will be worth it.
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Need more tips on how to pursue your copywriting passion? Reach out to The Write Reflection™ to discuss the best strategy.